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Gastroenterology

Feeding practices from birth to 12 months: impact on the gut microbiota and the risk of being overweight

Overweight

Commented articles - Children's section

By Pr. Emmanuel Mas
Gastroenterology and Nutrition Department, Children’s Hospital, Toulouse, France

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Photo : Feeding practices from birth to 12 months: impact on the gut micro- biota and the risk of being overweight

About this article

Created 26 August 2021
Updated 05 January 2022

Comments of the original article by Forbes et al. (JAMA Pediatr 2018)

The aim was to characterize the association between breastfeeding, microbiota, and risk of overweight during infancy.
The study included 1,087 infants; fecal microbiota at M3 to M4 and/or M12 were characterized by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. At M3, infants who were exclusively formula fed had an increased risk of overweight. At M12, microbiota profiles differed significantly according to feeding practices at M6; among partially breastfed infants, formula supplementation was associated with a profile similar to that of nonbreastfed infants, contrary to the introduction of complementary foods without formula. Breastfeeding may be protective against overweight by modulating the gut microbiota. Subtle microbiota differences emerge after brief exposure to formula in the hospital. Formula feeding appears to stimulate changes in microbiota that are associated with overweight, whereas other complementary foods do not.[1]

What is already known about this topic? 

From birth, certain factors influence the development of obesity. Breastfeeding has a protective effect, partly because breast milk is low in protein. The gut microbiota (GM) must also be taken into consideration because it is involved in food absorption and energy metabolism. The GM is formed during the first 2 to 3 years of life, and the method of feeding (breast milk vs. infant formula milk) is one of the main factors that modulates GM composition. The GM of obese adults is less diverse and has a higher ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes.

What are the main results of this study? 

This study is based on data from 1,087 infants included in the CHILD birth cohort (Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development). Infant faecal samples were collected for microbial analysis at 3 to 4 months (n=996), 12 months (n=821),  and at both time points (n=730). Mothers completed questionnaires on the method of feeding at 3 and 6 months, which made it possible to define different groups according to breastfeeding practices (Table 1). Among these infants, 74.2% were delivered vaginally, and 39.8% of mothers were overweight or obese. Rates of exclusive breastfeeding were 53.8% at 3 months and 17.6% at 6 months.

At 3 months, exclusive breastfeeding protected against the risk of being overweight at 12 months (defined by measured weight: expected weight ratio > 85th percentile) compared to exclusively formula-fed infants: 19.2% vs. 33.3%, respectively, with no significant effect of adjustment (Table 1). At 6 months, formula milk in addition to breastfeeding increased the risk of being overweight at 12 months, but solid foods did not have the same effect. Prolonged breastfeeding was found to confer a protective benefit.

As expected, GM richness and diversity at age 3 to 4 months differed according to the method of feeding, and the composition was significantly different between exclusively breastfed and non-breastfed infants (Figure 1). An increase in breastfeeding was accompanied by an increase in relative abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae and Enterobacteriaceae and a decrease in Lachnospiraceae, Veillonellaceae, and Ruminococcaceae.

By 12 months, the GM had become more homogeneous but there were still differences relative to the method of feeding at 6 months, i.e. increased richness for infants at least partially fed with formula milk, and a relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria that was higher in exclusively breastfed infants and lower in non-breastfed infants.

Greater GM richness at 3 to 4 months correlated with an increase in excess weight or a risk of becoming overweight at 12 months, particularly with regards to Lachnospiraceae, with a median relative abundance of 5.9% (overweight), 4.7% (risk of becoming overweight), and 1.9% (normal weight) (p=0.01) (Figure 2).

Image

Key points

  • Breastfeeding protects against becoming overweight at 1 year.

  • This effect is mediated by the composition of the gut microbiota.

  • Studies are needed to determine whether this effect persists over a longer term.

What are the practical consequences?

This study firstly demonstrates the benefit of breastfeeding on gaining excess weight at 1 year, and secondly that this benefit is related to modulation of the GM.

Additionally, it is important to promote exclusive breastfeeding from birth, by limiting supplementation with infant formula milk in the maternity unit. This benefit is enhanced by prolonged breastfeeding. Whereas the use of formula milk has a negative impact in infants, this is not the case for solid foods.

Image
Image

Conclusion

Breastfeeding, especially when prolonged, has a protective effect against becoming overweight at 1 year. Infant formula milk, even if used to supplement breastfeeding, increases GM richness and diversity at age 3 to 4 months, particularly Lachnospiraceae, and increases the risk of becoming overweight at 1 year.

Sources

1 Forbes JD, Azad MB, Vehling L, et al.  Association of Exposure to Formula in the Hospital and Subsequent Infant Feeding Practices With Gut Microbiota and Risk of Overweight in the First Year of Life. JAMA Pediatr. 2018 Jul 2;172(7):e181161.

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    Focus
    Microbiota 6 - March 2019
    • Overview
      • Microbiota and celiac disease
    • Commented articles
      • Resilience of healthy adult gut microbiota following antibiotic exposure
      • Feeding practices from birth to 12 months: impact on the gut microbiota and the risk of being overweight
    • Congress review
      • Fecal transplantation - ready for prime time?
      • The gut microbiota: issues and challenges in the management of metabolic disorders
    • Press review
      • Proton pump inhibitors modify gut microbiome
      • Gut microbiota involved in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
    Created 26 August 2021
    Updated 05 January 2022

    About this article

    To know more about this topic.

    Main topic

    Overweight

    Content type

    Commented article
    Resilience of healthy adult gut microbiota following antibiotic exposure
    Fecal transplantation - ready for prime time?
    Focus

    Microbiota 6 - March 2019

    Overview

    Microbiota and celiac disease

    Commented articles

    Resilience of healthy adult gut microbiota following antibiotic exposure Feeding practices from birth to 12 months: impact on the gut microbiota and the risk of being overweight

    Congress review

    Fecal transplantation - ready for prime time? The gut microbiota: issues and challenges in the management of metabolic disorders

    Press review

    Proton pump inhibitors modify gut microbiome Gut microbiota involved in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

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